DATE: April 24, 2018
TO: Deans, Directors, Senior Administrative Leaders and Associate Deans (Research)
FROM: David T. Barnard, Ph.D. President and Vice-Chancellor
RE: Announcement: Distinguished Professor Dr. Digvir Jayas, Vice-President (Research and International)
I am pleased to announce that Distinguished Professor Dr. Digvir Jayas has agreed to a two-year extension of his term as Vice-President (Research and International), to June 30, 2021. This extension was approved by the Board of Governors at its meeting of April 17, 2018.
Dr. Jayas received his doctoral degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan in 1987, following a Master's Degree from the University of Manitoba in 1982 and an undergraduate degree from the G. B. Pant University in India in 1980, both in Agricultural Engineering. He has spent his career at the University of Manitoba, first as a faculty member in the Agricultural Engineering and Biosystems Engineering Departments, followed by a series of progressively senior leadership roles as Department Head, Associate Dean (Research), Associate Vice-President (Research) and Vice-President (Research and International), a role he has held since 2009.
Dr. Jayas is consistent in his efforts to ensure that institutional decisions consistently reflect its interests as a research-intensive U15 university but also fit the needs of the University's research enterprise, including establishing supports for researchers intended to grow the success rate for grant applications, enhancing research funding supports provided by the university, advocating increased investment in graduate student support, leading successful application processes for research chairs, and changing the way in which intellectual property is managed. He has, through many conversations with researchers, department heads, Associate Deans (Research) and Deans, encouraged a strategic approach to pursuing research funding. In a similarly collaborative manner, he has led significant progress in pursuing the implementation of the research pillar of the University of Manitoba strategic plan (Taking our Place). Under his leadership, research funding has surpassed $190 million and research programs have been established to support interdisciplinary collaborations, incorporation of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in research, and international collaborations. Dr. Jayas has generated notable success in advancing major initiatives on the University's behalf, such as the successful application processes for a Canada Excellence Research Chair and a Canada 150 Chair, the Churchill Marine Observatory and the development of the Smartpark Innovation Hub. He continues to advocate with government and industry for increased funding for research and to develop supports within the University that help researchers be successful.
Dr. Jayas' areas of expertise are in drying, handling and storing grains and oilseeds and digital image processing for grading and processing operations in the Agri-Food Industry. His work has received global recognition and he has been the recipient of numerous awards and honours for his contributions. Among many others, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a Fellow of Engineers Canada, a Fellow of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers and a Foreign Fellow of both the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India and the National Academy of Sciences, India. He is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and a winner of both the Brockhouse Canada Prize for interdisciplinary research in science and engineering and the Dr. John M. Bowman Memorial Winnipeg RH Institute Foundation Award. Over his career, he has received almost $30 million in support for his research projects via grants and has authored or coauthored over 900 publications. He also is a member of numerous boards, committees, professional organizations and associations, which presently include ArcticNet, Cancer Care Manitoba Project Grants Committee, Engineers Canada, Genome Prairie, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, NSERC Council, TRIUMF and Research Manitoba, among others.
I know you will join me in congratulating Digvir on the extension of his term. I am looking forward to our continued work together.
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David T. Barnard, Ph.D., President and Vice-Chancellor 202 Administration Building, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2 Canada Office: +1-204-474-9345tel:%2B1-204-474-9345 FAX: +1-204-261-1318tel:%2B1-204-261-1318 Email: president@umanitoba.camailto:president@umanitoba.ca
